Claw bar



Nov. 20, 1928.

A. E. DAYTON ET AL CLAW BAR Filed June 20, 1927 Albert E. Dayton James V Earlsen gwwntow Patented Nov, 20, 1928 "UNITED STATES ALBERT E. DAYTON AND JAMES V. CARLSEN, OF POCATELLO, IDAHO.

CLAW BAR.

Application filed June 20,

The present invention relates to improvements in claw bar constructions, and more particularly to instruments of this character for use in ployed as a fastening means for rails of various descriptions. I The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved claw .bar construction embodying an arrangement whereby the track spikes may be easily pulled without requiring that the claw bar have its claw driven to a position beneath the head of the track spikes for initial pulling thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of anchoring member for attachment to claw bars in a manner whereby the anchoring member so engages the rail that when the bar is swung in one direction the claws of the bar will be forced under the head of the track spikes for initial pulling thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a claw bar attachment for facilitating the pulling of track spikes, and which attachment is readily adjustable for use in connection'with rails of various sizes and weights.

V A still further object of the invention is to provide a claw bar embodying a rail engaging member which engages the rail in a manner for allowing the claw of the bar to be forced under the head-of the track spike for initial pulling thereof, and after which the member may be readily swung to a position out of engagement with the rail for allowing theclaw bar to be used in the usual manner for complete pulling of the spike.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the-course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a View showing the device in 5 use and with the portions thereof in a position for the initial step in pulling the spike.

Figure 2 is a view showing the rail engaging member or attachment having been swung free from the rail and the manner in which theclaw bar propermay be-swung for complete pulling'of the spike. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the attachment.

Figure is an enlarged fragmentary secthe pulling of track spikes em-- 1927. Serial No. 200,140.

tion showing the manner in which the rail engaging member is pivotally connected with the claw bar proper. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates the claw bar proper and B an anchoringor rail engaging'member pivotally coupled to the claw bar A for engagement with .a conventional type of rail C resting upon the sleeper or cross tie D and secured thereto as by means of the track spikes E.

The claw bar proper A may be of conventional construction and embodies a lever or handle portion '5 having formed at one end thereof a shoe or claw portion 6 being tapered and divided at its end for providing claws 7 which engage and receive therebetween'the heads of the track spikes E upon rocking movement of the handle portion 5. The

shoe 6 is provided with the usual longitudi nally convex bearing surface 8 for engaging the upper surface of the cross tie D and servin as a fulcrum for the claw bar.

eferring now to the anchoring or'rail engaging member B for detachable connection with the rail 0, the same is of one piece construction and embodies a bifurcated head portion 10 forming a pair of elongated parallel spaced apart arms 11 provided with a seriesof transversely aligning circular openings 12. Extending in angularly ofi'set relation from the inner end of the head 10 is a shank portion 13 provided at its free end with a hook-shaped portion 14 which is adapted to engage beneath the head or ball 15 of the rail 0 at the opposite side of the rail from which the bar 5 is disposed. Projecting laterally from the upper edge of one .of the arms 11 above the openings 12, is a tread plate or flange 16 which serves for swinging of the member B out of holding engagement with the rail'C. A

Pivotally connecting the member B with the lower end of the handle portion 5 is a suitable pivot pin 20the shank portionof which extends thru the aligning openings 12 in the arms 11 and an opening 21 provided in the bar A at a point adjacent the juncture of'the portions 5 and 6. This pivot pin 20 for mounting of the bar A between the arms 11 may be provided at oneend with a suitable head and at its opposite end with a removable pin 22 whereby the pivot pin may be readily removed for insertion into either of the sets of aligning openings 12 for adjustment of the anchoring member transversely of the longitudinal axis of the bar A. Thus it will be seen that when the pin 20 is inserted thru either of the aligning openings 12 thatthe anchoring member B is pivotally connected to the bar A and that the hook-shaped end 14 of the member B is capable of vertical swinging movement toward and away from the bar. It will also be observed that by so providing the series of openings 12 for ad- ]ustlnent of the shoe portionlongitudinally of the head 10, and so disposing the shank portion 13 in angular relation to the longitudinal aXis of the head 10, that such permits of the device being used upon rails of v'arious heights and weights. A

In use of the improved claw bar construc tion, the hook-portion1 l is first positioned over the ball 15 of the rail C in a manner as illustrated in Figure 1 and then the pointed claws 7 positioned beneath the head of the spike E in a manner as illustrated in Figure l.

The bar A is then swung awayfrom the rail 7 C about a pin as a fulcrum to a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and which swinging movement of the bar will cause. the claws 7 to be forced beneath the head of the spikes in a manner whereby the spike head is raised out of engagement with the rail flange. This initial starting of the spike E a is ordinarily accomplished by driving the claws 7 beneath the head of the spikes, and which renders the spike pulling operation hazardous and a very slow procedure. :After initial starting of the spike, the bar A is rocked toward the rail to a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in which position the bill 30 of the hook l l is moved from beneath the ball of the rail by movement of the member B transversely across the rail, die to the swinging movementiof the bar A. The operator then places one foot upon the V tread plate or flange 16 and rocks the member B for swinging the hook l3 upwardly in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 to a position whereby the hook may be drawn across the upper side of the rail head as shown in full lines in Figure 2. This continued swinging of the bar A away from the rail 0 places the claws 7 in a position whereby the claws may be readily passed beneath the spike heads and the bar then swung downwardly toward thetie D for pulling of the spike fromthe tie! Thus it will be observed that the member B merely serves as means for facilitatingstarting of the spikes, and that after initial pulling of the spikes no further strain is applied to the anchoring member after serving as means for facilitating starting of the spikes. In Figure 2 it will be seen that after the member .13 isreleased from the ball of the 'rail C, that the bar A may be used in the in accordance with the width of the rail, and

the angular relation of the head 10 and shank portion. will allow for the hook 14 to properly engage the rail head in accordance with the particular height of the rail from which the device is being used. a

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel and improved claw bar construction has been providedembody- :5 ing features whereby track spikes may be readily pulled from rails of various weights or sizes without the usual requiring of the claws of the bar being driven to a position beneath the track spikes for initial pulling thereof, and which device is of such construction as to permit of the bar hein used in the usualmanner for complete pulling of the spike after initial starting thereofby the employment of the rail engaging member so L19" cooperating with the claw 'bar proper as to insure initial startingof the spike by the swinging motion of the bar It will also be apparent-that a novel claw bar attachment has been provided which may be readily associated with the conventional types of claw bars as now in use for the pulling of track spikes. i

Changes in detail may be-made to the specific form of the invention herein shown andrul described 'without' departing from the spirit its end for engagingbeneath the head of'a track spike, a rail engaging member embodying a head portion provided with a laterally ,110 projecting tread plate, and a hooked portion formed at the opposite end of the member from said head for engaging over the ball of a rail, and means pivotally and adjustably connecting the lever barat its shoe portion to1 1l5 the head of the rail engaging member against giovement of the member-transversely of the 2. A device of the class described comprising a lever bar embodying a handleportionxl20 and a shoe portion having claws provided at its end for engaging beneath the head of a track spike, said bar having an aperture extending transversely therethru at the juncture of the handle and shoe portions, a rail en-afl gaging memberincluding an elongated bifurcated head portion forming parallelspaced apart arms provided with longitudinally spaced apertures aligning transversely of the head portion, a shank portion extending in.

angular relation to the longitudinal axis of the head portion,and ahooked portion formed at the free end of the shank portion for engaging over the ball of the rail, a pin for pivotally connecting the lever bar and rail engaging members and removably insertable thru the apertures in the lever bar and either set of aligning apertures of the bifurcated head for adjustment of the shoe portion of the bar toward and away from said hooked portion of the rail engaging member, and means for removably retaining thepin in position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a lever bar embodying a claw portion for engaging beneath the head of a track spike, of an anchoring member for connection with the lever bar comprising a bifurcated head portion forming a pair of elongated parallel spaced apart arms provided with circular openings aligning transversely of the head portion, a tread plate projecting laterally from the upper edge of one of said arms, an elongated shank portion extending from one end of the head portion in angular offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the head portion, and a hooked portion formed at the outer end of the shank portion for engaging the ball of a rail, and

.a pivot pin adapted to removably extend thru the lever bar and either of the aligning sets of openings in the arms of the head portion for pivotally and adjustably connecting the anchoring member at its head portion to the lever bar whereby the pivotal axis of the lever bar may be adjusted toward and away from the hooked portion of the anchoring member.

ALBERT E. DAYTON.

JAMES V. CARLSEN. 

